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🚂🏆 WE'RE A FINALIST...
We're absolutely delighted to announce that Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society Inc. has been named a finalist in the 2026 South Australian Tourism Awards.
This recognition is a wonderful tribute to our dedicated volunteers, whose passion, knowledge and countless hours help preserve an important part of South Australia's railway heritage while creating memorable experiences for our visitors.
To everyone who has travelled with us, supported our Society or helped us along the way, thank you.
You are all part of our journey.
We're proud to be celebrating alongside so many wonderful tourism businesses showcasing the very best of South Australia.
We'll be looking forward to the Gala Dinner on 6 November, when the winners will be announced.
Wish us luck! 🚂🏆
#SATourismAwards #SATA2026 #PichiRichiRailway #FlindersRanges #SouthAustralia #TourismSA #RailwayHeritage #Volunteers #finalists #SATC #TicSA #quorn #trainlovers #visitsouthaustralia
THE GOODS SHED COMES ALIVE AGAIN
THE GOODS SHED COMES ALIVE AGAIN
If the walls of Quorn’s historic Goods Shed could talk, imagine the stories they could tell. For generations, the Quorn railway precinct was a busy working place.
Goods arrived and departed by rail, produce was handled and stored, and livestock moved through the nearby stockyards as the railway connected communities across the region.
The Goods Shed itself played an important role — providing loading areas and temporary storage for goods in transit.
Fast forward to 2026 and, on one very special day, there was once again a wonderful sense of activity around this historic part of the railway.
This time, it was horses. 🐴
As horses were carefully prepared and loaded aboard the train, people gathered, volunteers worked together and the area around the Goods Shed was once again filled with movement, conversation and camaraderie. And there was something particularly special about seeing it happen here.
Our Quorn Goods Shed has recently undergone an extensive restoration, thanks to the dedication and many hours of work contributed by Pichi Richi Railway volunteers.
To then see this beautifully restored piece of railway heritage providing the backdrop to such a memorable day was quite a sight. While we don't suggest horses were historically loaded from the Goods Shed itself, livestock movement was once an important part of Quorn's working railway precinct — particularly sheep, which were handled through the nearby stockyards.
So perhaps, in its own very different way, this day offered a little glimpse of what a busy working railway precinct must once have felt like. Heritage isn't only about preserving buildings. It's about preserving their stories — and finding new chapters to add along the way. ❤️
The Goods Shed has stood through generations of railway history. Thanks to our volunteers, it is ready to stand through many more.
📷 Thank you to our volunteer Wayne Gartner for capturing photos of this wonderful moment and helping us share another chapter in the story of Pichi Richi Railway.
Photo Credit: Wayne Gartner
#goodsshed #horses #history #restoration #southaustralia #travel #trains #history #visitsouthaustralia #fun #fellowship #heritagerail #trainlovers #media #abc #channel9
Did you catch our ABC Story?
DID YOU CATCH OUR ABC STORY?
What a wonderful week of media coverage for this very special horse and rider experience on the Pichi Richi Railway!
You may have already seen the fabulous ABC News story published on 11 September, sharing the sight of more than 30 horses travelling aboard our historic railway before continuing their adventure through the beautiful Flinders Ranges. 🌿
🐴 A big thank you to ABC North and West and reporter Isabella Kelly for capturing and sharing this unique story — and showcasing our heritage railway and this magnificent part of South Australia.
🎙️ And there’s more! The story was also featured on ABC Australia Wide on Tuesday 15 September. If you'd like to have a listen, the Pichi Richi Railway horse story is the final story in the program — simply skip forward to 21:49 and listen through to the end.
👉 Listen to the ABC Australia Wide story here and skip forward to 21:49 — our Pichi Richi Railway horse story is the final story in the program. 🐴
Thank you again to everyone involved in making this special privately organised horse and rider experience possible — including our wonderful PRR volunteers. 🚂
💛 And keep following us — we have some fantastic photos from the day to share with you over the coming week! 🐴
📸 Photo Credit: Sandy Horne
#pichirichirailway #flindersranges #quorn #horses #southaustralia #experience #seesouthaustralia #tourism #ticSA #trainlovers #steamtrain
Tracks Through History | Episode 2: The Pichi Richi Railway Story - PODCAST
Take a journey through railway history with Episode 2 of Tracks Through History, the official Pichi Richi Railway podcast.
From the 1800s through to today, Pichi Richi Railway volunteer Jeremy shares his knowledge and passion for railway history, bringing the story to life with fascinating facts and engaging stories along the way.
Discover how the railway influenced towns and communities, hear stories connected with The Ghan, and learn more about the history that ultimately became part of the story of Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society and the heritage railway we know today.
Whether you're a railway enthusiast, interested in South Australian history, or simply enjoy a good story, we invite you to tune in and travel the tracks through history with us. We'd love to hear your feedback.
Please share this episode with friends and family who may enjoy it too, and help us keep railway history alive for future generations.
Subscribe to Pichi Richi Railway and follow Tracks Through History for future episodes.
View on Utube:
View on Spotify
The Pichi Richi Railway Song | The Old Ghan Line & Our Railway History
🎶🚂 A NEW SONG FOR PICHI RICHI RAILWAY! 🚂🎶
We’re incredibly excited to share something very special with you…
A brand-new song written especially for Pichi Richi Railway, celebrating the railway, its history and, most importantly, the dedicated volunteers who have worked so hard to preserve it for future generations. ❤️
A huge and heartfelt THANK YOU to Rod Eddie for writing this beautiful song and generously donating the lyrics to Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society Inc.
Rod’s words capture something very special about what Pichi Richi means to so many people — the trains, the history, the landscape and the people who keep the story alive. 🚂❤️
🎥 Watch the video, turn the sound up and have a listen!
🎶 And a special thank you to everyone whose photographs have helped bring the story to life, including James Batchelder, Phil Radoslovich, Damien Butler, Julie Johnson, J Browne and other volunteers.
Rod, thank you for giving Pichi Richi Railway its very own song. We’re so grateful. ❤️
#PichiRichiRailway #PichiRichi #SouthAustralia #FlindersRanges #SteamTrain #RailwayHistory #RailwayPreservation #Volunteers #AustralianRailways #news #mediacoverage
Heritage railway operating since 1878
In 1878, construction commenced on the Port Augusta and Government Gums Railway. (Government Gums is now known as Farina, and lies close to the northern end of the Flinders Ranges). The Port Augusta and Government Gums Railway Act of 1876 stipulated that the gauge of the railway "shall be 3 feet 6 inches" (1067mm) with iron rails "not less than 40 pounds to the yard." The railway reached Quorn on 15 December 1879, and Government Gums in 1882. Government Gums was chosen as the terminus because of a reliable water supply. The line was extended to Oodnadatta in 1891 (becoming the Great Northern Railway) and further to Alice Springs (771 miles or 1241 km) in 1929, as the Central Australia Railway. The famous Ghan passenger train travelled this way between 1923 and 1956, and beyond Marree, on the northern part of this route until 1980.
You can enjoy a full-day or half-day trip aboard a restored steam or heritage diesel train on the original Ghan route between Port Augusta and Quorn on the Pichi Richi Railway.
Watch gum-lined creeks, bluebush-studded hills and ancient rocky outcrops roll past at the relaxed pace of years gone by. All trains use historic steam or diesel locomotives or railcars or immaculately restored timber carriages some more than 130 years old.
Since 1973, volunteers of the Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society continue to proudly restore and run the railway, one of the Flinders Ranges' top attractions.
We operate on selected dates from March to November each year. Click to see our timetable, click to book online or phone 1800 PR RAIL (1800 77 7245) to book at the Flinders Ranges Visitor Information Centre.
Award-Winning Restoration – Carriage 470
Award-Winning Restoration – Carriage 470
What an incredible achievement for our dedicated Carriage Department volunteers, who have been recognised with the ATHRA (Association of Tourist and Heritage Rail Australia) Passenger Vehicle Restoration Award for the restoration of Carriage 470.
Since 2020, volunteers have committed their time, skills and resources to restoring this historic South Australian Railways carriage, originally built at Islington in 1911 and preserving an important piece of railway heritage for future generations to enjoy.
The restoration was truly a labour of love:
🔹 14,000 volunteer hours contributed
🔹 160 window catches restored
🔹 40 windows and 40 shutters restored
🔹 1.5 kilometres of timber used to line the ceiling
🔹 14,000 wood screws installed
🔹 560 litres of paint applied This award recognises the dedication, craftsmanship and perseverance of the many volunteers who contributed to the project, including Alan Ainsworth, Geoff Annear, Mike Brett, Don Bryker, Bruce Collins, Geoff Cox,
Chris Dunbar, Matt Dunbar, Dave Fisher, Kath Fisher, Dean Foster, Wayne Hoskin, Rob Jones, Travis McDonald, Paul Moffitt, Eric Platt, Les Potter, the late Ray King, and many others who lent a hand along the way. Thank you to everyone involved in preparing and submitting the award nomination, and thank you to ATHRA for recognising the restoration of Carriage 470 with this prestigious national award. Congratulations to all involved in this remarkable project and thank you for helping preserve an important piece of South Australian rail history
Photo credit: Kay Cawthorne; Peter Taylor and other volunteers.
Introducing a brand new premium heritage experience, - The Commissioner’s Explorer
Introducing a brand new premium heritage experience, the Commissioner’s Explorer
Travel like a Railway Commissioner.
For an afternoon 50 guests will have the rare opportunity to step aboard one of the beautifully restored Commissioner's carriages "Flinders, Sturt or Light” and enjoy an unforgettable journey through the spectacular Pichi Richi Pass.
These carriage were specially designed so senior railway officials could inspect the railway in comfort while travelling through regional South Australia.
On Friday 16 October 2026, you'll experience this remarkable piece of living history behind heritage locomotive YX141, travelling from Quorn to the beautiful Tickle Belly Hill.
Along the way, our passionate volunteers will share fascinating stories and unique commentary about the Commissioner's Train, the railway and the rich history of the Pichi Richi Pass, making this much more than a train journey—it's a step back in time.
After arriving at Tickle Belly Hill, relax and enjoy a delicious Australian themed afternoon tea, and the warm country hospitality the venue is renowned for before returning to Quorn.
Whether you're fascinated by railway history, love heritage travel or simply enjoy unique South Australian experiences, this promises to be an afternoon to remember.
Bookings open soon online... either by booking via facebook or bookings on this website page.
If you are interested in travelling on this experience please ring Flinders Ranges Tourist Information Centre on (08)86200510 to put your name and number or persons traveling to secure your seat.
- DATE: Friday 16 October 2026
- * DEPART QUORN: 1:00pm
- * RETURN: Approximately 4:30pm
- * $215 per person
- #TrainExperience #travel #AfternoonTea #experience #southaustralia #steamtrain
